Varshitap (or Varsi‑tap) is a very powerful Jain tap (austerity), inspired by Bhagwan Rishabhdev’s one‑year fast which he broke with sugarcane juice on Akshay Tritiya.

Below is the Varshitap kriya / vidhi in detail, in simple steps.

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1. Basic idea of Varshitap

• Duration: about 1 year (often counted as 13 lunar months + few extra days, till next Akshay Tritiya).
• Pattern: fast one day, eat the next day, again fast, again eat – like this for the whole period.
• Goal:

- Control of hunger, taste and mind - Destruction of karmas - Growth in samyakti (right faith), daya (compassion), shanti (peace).

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2. Who should do Varshitap?

• Only if:

- Health is reasonably good - There is firm mental and spiritual readiness - You have guidance from a Jain sadhu/sadhvi or knowledgeable guru

• Not for:

- Small children - Very old, very weak, or seriously ill people

If there is any doubt about health, take smaller taps first (Upvas, Ayambil, Oli, etc.) and only then think about Varshitap.

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3. Sankalp (vow) / Starting Varshitap

Normally, it is started on a shubh tithi (auspicious lunar day), often in Chaitra Shukla. The exact date is fixed as per Jain calendar.

Before starting:

1. Prarthana (prayer):

- Bow to the Panch Parmeshthi (Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu). - Recite Navkar Mantra with deep bhaav (feeling).

1. Sankalp statement (in simple meaning):

- “With devotion to Arihant–Siddha and under guidance of Guru, I take Varshitap vow: I will do upvas (fast) and bhojan (eating) on alternate days, maintain samaik, pratikraman, ahimsa, satya, and good conduct, as per my capacity, till next Akshay Tritiya (or the decided period).”

1. Guru/Vidhan:

- If possible, do this in presence of a sadhu/sadhvi or at least in front of a Jin mandir murti with proper vidhi.

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4. Daily routine – Fasting Day (Upvas day)

On the fasting day:

1. Morning:

- Wake up with shubh bhavna. - Snan (bath) if health allows. - Go to temple or do dev pooja at home. - Recite: - Navkar Mantra - Logassa / Uvasaggaharam / other stavan as per tradition - Do Samayik if possible (30–48 minutes of equanimity, with no worldly talk).

1. Food & water rules (typical):

- Full Upvas (no food). - Water only as per your niyam: - Many do boiled water only during daytime, and no water at night. - Some stricter observers even avoid milk, tea, etc. – only boiled water.

1. Daytime conduct:

- Avoid: - Gossip, anger, lies, harsh speech, mobile/TV distractions. - Do: - Swadhyaya (study of Jain scriptures, Rishabhdev charitra, etc.) - Japa–Dhyan: Repeating Navkar, reciting stavans, doing dhyan on soul’s purity. - Vaiyavratya: Seva of sadhus, elderly, sick, or temple work if available.

1. Evening:

- Perform Pratikraman (at least short/Alpa pratikraman) to repent for faults. - Again Navkar, Kshamapana (asking forgiveness). - Sleep with kshama-bhav (forgiving everyone, seeking forgiveness).

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5. Daily routine – Eating Day (Bhojan day)

On the non‑fasting day, food is taken but with strict rules.

1. Morning:

- Same start as fasting day: snan, temple/pooja, Navkar, Samayik if possible.

1. Type of food (varies by tradition & capacity):

Common forms: - Ekasana: One main sitting of food in the day. - Beyasana (Beshna): Two sittings in the day. Some also do: - Ayambil: One meal, very simple, without taste enhancers (no oil, ghee, milk, curd, sweets, spices, etc.).

1. General food rules (commonly followed):

- No onion, garlic, eggs, non‑veg, alcohol etc. (ordinary Jain rules). - Many avoid root vegetables (anjankand/jamikand). - Food should be: - Cooked fresh that day - With proper Jain niyam of picking, washing, and not at night - Eat with full awareness, not greed; stop when hunger is satisfied, not when stomach is overloaded.

1. After meals:

- Continue swadhyaya, stavan, dhyan as on fasting days. - Avoid wasting time in entertainment or arguments.

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6. Special rules & discipline through the year

During the whole Varshitap period, the following are generally observed:

1. Brahmacharya (celibacy / great purity):

- Married people also maintain as much celibacy as possible or total as per vow. - No inappropriate talks, thoughts or actions.

1. Ahimsa & carefulness:

- Extra care in walking, cleaning, using water, etc., to minimize violence to living beings. - Some avoid bathing on fasting days in certain local customs, to reduce water use and bodily distraction (this varies by tradition).

1. No stored water (Sanchit):

- Prefer fresh boiled water. - Avoid keeping water for many days.

1. Regular spiritual study:

- Especially Rishabhdev charitra (life of Bhagwan Rishabhdev), related sutras, stories of tapasvi shravaks/shravikas.

1. Bhavna (inner attitude):

- Maitri (friendship) to all - Pramod (joy in others’ virtues) - Karuna (compassion) - Madhyastha (equanimity).

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7. Handling health issues during Varshitap

• If health weakens seriously:

- Take guidance from Guru/knowledgeable Jain and adjust: - Change to Ayambil instead of full upvas, - Or take extra food days, - Or stop Varshitap with proper parna and mentally accept that effort itself is punya.

• Jain Dharma never supports careless self‑harm. Tap should be sahaj (within one’s true capacity), with right faith, not with ego.

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8. Completion & Parna (breaking of Varshitap)

Why Akshay Tritiya?

• According to Jain tradition, Bhagwan Rishabhdev broke His one‑year fast at Hastinapur with sugarcane juice (ikshu‑ras) offered by Shreyans Kumar.
• That day is called Akshay Tritiya (Vaishakh Shukla 3) and is considered very shubh.
• From that event, the custom of breaking year‑long Varshitap with sugarcane juice started.

Parna Vidhi (general outline):

1. Last fasting day is kept with extra dhyan and bhavna.
2. On Parna day (Akshay Tritiya or decided date):

- Go to temple or do pooja at home. - Do: - Snatra / Jin Pooja as per tradition - Navkar, stavans, prarthana - Take sugarcane juice (if possible) as the first item of parna, remembering Rishabhdev’s fast completion. - Then take light food, not heavy, and in small quantity.

1. Bhav at the end:

- No pride, no show‑off. - Offer all punya to the path of Moksha, pray for samyak darshan and shuddh charitra in this or future lives. - Do Kshamapana – ask forgiveness from all beings for any mistakes in Varshitap.

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9. Digambar and Shwetambar – small differences

• Shwetambar tradition (common pattern):

- Clear emphasis on alternate‑day upvas for about a year (or 13 months + days). - End on Akshay Tritiya with sugarcane juice parna. - Often detailed vidhi and collective Varshitap by groups of shravaks/shravikas.

• Digambar tradition:

- In some places, a slightly different counting or shorter duration (around 6 months) is mentioned, or more focus on Ayambil / Ekasana pattern. - Greater stress on brahmacharya and strict simplicity of food.

But in both traditions, the main spirit is same:

• high‑level tapa,
• control over senses,
• reduction of passions,
• and purification of karma.

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For a simple English explanation of Varshitap and its vidhi, you can read more here and here